Lexical Summary moshaah: Deliverance, Salvation Original Word: מוֹשָׁעָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance salvation From yasha'; deliverance -- salvation. see HEBREW yasha' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yasha Definition saving acts NASB Translation deliverances (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מוֺשָׁעָה] noun feminine only plural מוֺשָׁעוֺת saving acts Psalm 68:21. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope of the Term The word מוֹשָׁעָה denotes an act or means of rescue that originates with God and is effectual in preserving life. Whereas other Hebrew terms may emphasize broad welfare or general salvation, this noun focuses on the decisive moment when the Lord intervenes to snatch His people from peril. Occurrence and Textual Setting The term appears a single time, in Psalm 68:20. Set within David’s celebration of YHWH’s triumphal ascent, the verse declares: “Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our escape from death” (Berean Standard Bible). Here the word stands in poetic parallelism with divine title, underscoring that deliverance is not merely a gift God bestows but an attribute of His very being. Old Testament Theology of Divine Deliverance Psalm 68 connects past redemptive acts—Sinai (verses 7–8), the wilderness (verse 10), and the conquest (verses 12–14)—with present worship in Zion. By employing this rare noun, the psalmist gathers every historical rescue under one heading: God Himself. The Exodus (Exodus 14:13), the era of the judges (Judges 3:9), and David’s personal escapes (2 Samuel 22:2) all point to the same Source. The singular appearance of מוֹשָׁעָה thus concentrates the doctrine: divine deliverance is singular in origin though manifold in expression. Relation to Other Hebrew Terms for Salvation Unlike יְשׁוּעָה or תְּשׁוּעָה, which can describe victory or broad salvation, מוֹשָׁעָה stresses rescuing from immediate threat, especially death. The suffix pattern hints at an objective result rather than an abstract concept. It is the difference between safety as a condition and a lifeboat as a means; Psalm 68:20 speaks of the lifeboat. Messianic and Eschatological Overtones The psalm as a whole is applied to the ascension of Christ in Ephesians 4:8. The deliverance the Son secures fulfills what the noun anticipates: a final “escape from death.” Isaiah stands on similar ground when he prophesies, “Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation” (Isaiah 45:17). The New Testament answers with the empty tomb (Matthew 28:6) and the promise that Jesus “delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10). Practical and Pastoral Significance 1. Assurance in Mortal Danger. Believers facing persecution, illness, or calamity can pray Psalm 68:20, confident that God’s nature includes personal rescue. Links to New Testament Fulfillment The Septuagint renders the term with σωτηρίας, framing it within the Greek vocabulary later used throughout the New Testament. Acts 4:12 announces that “there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved,” bringing the singular Old Testament occurrence to its christological climax. Revelation 7:10 echoes the psalmist’s confession on a cosmic scale: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” In sum, מוֹשָׁעָה is a spotlight word: it shines once, but where it shines every rescue in redemptive history is gathered, culminating in the deliverance wrought by the risen Lord. Forms and Transliterations לְֽמוֹשָׁ֫ע֥וֹת למושעות lə·mō·wō·šā·‘ō·wṯ lemoShaot ləmōwōšā‘ōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 68:20 HEB: לָנוּ֮ אֵ֤ל לְֽמוֹשָׁ֫ע֥וֹת וְלֵיהוִ֥ה אֲדֹנָ֑י NAS: is to us a God of deliverances; And to GOD KJV: [is] the God of salvation; and unto GOD INT: God A God of deliverances GOD the Lord 1 Occurrence |
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